Page 62 of Trapped By Clocks and Hearts

Allie took a big, deep breath before disappearing back downstairs again.

The impending threat having passed straight over her head, the Duchess covered her mouth in a giggle.

I rolled my eyes at her caprice. I tilted the mirror to cast a spell to shrink it smaller once again.

“Rabb, wait,” the Duchess piped up.

I met her gaze.

Her tone turned somber. “Allie’s heart…”

I nodded. “I know.”

“Do you?” Her curls fell to one side as she tilted her head. “If you recall what I said, the Heartfire ember ignites from the memories of loved ones. Love, Rabb,” she pressed. “Once Allie’s heart fills with memories of love, then all is lost.”

I nodded again. “Yes. We just need to make sure Allie doesn’t have a chance to recover her old memories before I can get a Heartlamp.”

“Ah…” She paused, a catch in her tone. “It need not be past memories. Another way the Queen may possess Allie’s heart is if she loves. That is…if she falls for you too.”

A shiver ran up my spine. At the implication of her words, my eyebrows snapped together. “Too? What the hell do you mean ‘too’?”

The Duchess gave me a half-smirk.

I shifted uncomfortably in my stance, absolutely not keen to dig deeper into the matter. “She’s not going to fall for me,” I claimed with a soft growl. “She said so before. She doesn’t love like that. I can’t even seduce her, for god’s sake. Nothing I do affects her at all.” I couldn’t help the frustration in my tone. “Besides, you heard what she said. She hates me. I’m the bad guy, remember?”

The twitch in my chest stung at the recollection of the raw resentment in Allie’s eyes. She was never going to fall for me.

I clenched my jaw.

But perhaps the Duchess had a point too. There was no telling if Allie would remain immune to my charms and spells.

The stakes were too high to risk the chance.

I needed to focus on my mission.

Chapter 18 - Queen of Hearts

The entire carriage ride to the Queen’s castle was filled with tense silence.

Allie’s face was turned out the window as she ignored me. Still upset about having learned the truth.

I couldn’t blame her. It was well enough.

She seemed entranced by the cotton candy clouds dotting the sky we flew past.

And I was only so glad not to have to endure her conversation or listen to her ramble on and on about experiments and portals. Even though talking of science always made those hazel eyes light up, always made her aura glow with happiness…

I shook my head to snap out of my reverie.

When the carriage made its descent, the view out the window turned a lively green. Wheels rattling on the pebbled path, the carriage maneuvered through the castle gardens.

Sprawling with a riot of color and whimsy, rows of meticulously pruned rose bushes bordered intricate mazes of trimmed hedges and manicured lawns. Curious topiaries, sculpted into the Queen’s likeness, dotted the trees and columns lining the road.

Allie’s eyes rose to the top of the grand and imposing structure we approached.

Towering spires reached toward the sky, topped with flags heralding the Queen’s coat of arms gaily waving in the wind of the bright, sunny day. The castle walls were decorated in varying sizes of suits of cards painted in bold, contrasting colors. A heart-shaped wrought-iron gate swung open as flamboyantly attired soldiers marched alongside.

Our carriage stopped right at the wide stone steps leading up to the castle.